Overload

Hello Cricket...lovely to meet you and hello to all our other members too.

I suffer from Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia but I am sorry I do not have any experience at all with sleep apnoea. I do however know how frustrating it is to go to the doctor only for him to tell you that you have yet something else wrong with you.

Hang in there..I think a positive attitude goes a long way towards helping you cope.

Well on the other hand, apnea is treatable which means that your life should get better at the end of treatment. I am familiar with testing/doctor overload and the only usefull thing I can say is get your disability assessment at the end as by that time you look/sound so bad, your protests that "I'm not always this bad" only make you look stoic and plucky. Also, I take sleeping pills and forget what day it is; just refer to it as "testing day 4" or "specialist visit day" - that help?

wish you well in survival

I guess I'm saying I need to find a way to embrace it, not find a way to fool myself over it. My concerns go farther than sleep apnea, which is treatable, of course, but do you know someone who WANTS to sleep in a mask the rest of their life? Chronic means a mighty long time and I am feeling the burden of that now with my multiple conditions.

I've got a congenital heart defect, congestive heart failure, diabetes type 2, asthma, and Sjogrens. I'm the queen of chronic diseases, and yes I know exactly what you mean. I'm so tired of my life revolving around doctors and hospitalizations. It's like I have no life left to enjoy anymore. Which is why I love blogging, because it's non stressful, fun, and social.

I hear you, sista! I'm in the same boat, here. On top of my chronic stuff (Fibromyalgia, depression, lichen schlerosa, periodic limb movement disorder), I accumulate acute and other not-quite-acute-and-not-
chronic-yet-must-do-something-about-it diagnoses. What I have found is that I can only accomodate working on one new thing at a time. For example, I am currently having PT for my bladder issues. I need to see a new environmental medicine specialist for treatment of the FMS and fatigue, but I decided those appointments have to wait until I'm done with the PT. I already have 2 counseling appointments a week and one more thing at a time is all I can manage.

I think this is one of the hardest things about chronic illness - it doesn't go away. I never quite "get used to it" because it's always changing.

One step at a time is cliche, but sane advice.

Hi everyone,

I have small issues compared to you guys here. I am a 6th year cancer survivor from Hodgkin's lymphoma - had 10months of chemo and radiation - now doing great, even had 2 kids after all the toxic drugs were pumped in me. (I just turned 24 when they told me I have cancer, and had my wedding 10 weeks prior... )

My other issue is I have a mild form of colitis, that requires daily medication. At the other end. No fun.

I guess I don't really embrace it. I haven't yet. I have (FINALLY) accepted that this is what I had/have, and I can either cry about it or face it head on. I have bad days for sure, believe me. But most of my days are pretty good. I can't change the facts, and there isn't a cure for colitis. So I just have to deal. I dwell on things, a lot, but then move on. (and then dwell again some time later...)

It used to make me angry that I have to deal with such things when most people my age only worry about the next promotion or the next girlfriend/boyfriend. I'm better about it now, and realize that people get dealt with various problems in life that they also don't have control over.

Anyway, long way of saying, take it one day at a time. That's all what anyone can do. :-)

Best wishes, and happy thanksgiving (if you're in the US)